Traverse City commencement celebrates family

Grand Valley State University's 11th annual Traverse City commencement will focus not only on the new graduates earning degrees, but the families who support them.

During the ceremony, the university is giving away balloons, beads and ribbon wands to create a festive atmosphere. Also, for the first time, there is an added a photo opportunity for graduates. Besides having the traditional graduate photo, there will be a professional photographer taking family photos with the graduate.  Each graduate who takes advantage of this offer will receive a free picture of their family.

The family focus of the ceremony is inspired by the non-traditional nature of Grand Valley’s Traverse City students. Those students come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some are published authors, some serve on non-profit boards, some coordinate activities during community events such as the Cherry Festival, or have their own businesses. Around 83 percent of the students walking are over the age of 24.

“The importance of family is never more evident than with the nontraditional learner,” said Marty Litherland, director of regional centers for Grand Valley. “Many students have children — and grandchildren — who provide both the incentive for the student to complete their degree as well as the tension of taking time away from the family to commit to the coursework. The challenges are significant to balance responsibilities of work, family and studies. The family is the safety net that helps support our students and at the same time, provides them with the broader perspective of the importance of reaching their goal.”

In addition to the commencement ceremonies, 25 students graduating with master’s degrees in social work have transformed full-sized doors into a reflection of their academic careers. One side of the door is decorated to reflect the student's perception of how social work transforms peoples' lives, while on the other side, the student used the space to demonstrate how the social work degree program has transformed his or her own life. The doors are on display through May 2 outdoors at the Great Lakes Campus of Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City. The Great Lakes Campus is the site of a special recognition ceremony for master’s in social work graduates in the afternoon before commencement.

This year's commencement is 6 p.m. May 1 at the Grand Traverse Resort in Acme. Grand Valley Provost Gayle Davis will provide the commencement address, and special music will be provided by the Honors Brass Quintet. More than 100 students are anticipated to walk — the largest group in the history of the event. A reception follows the ceremony.

Grand Valley became part of the Northwestern Michigan College University Center in 1996. The university offers undergraduate degree programs in education and liberal studies. It also offers graduate programs in education and social work. Grand Valley serves approximately 275 students across northern Michigan with classes offered in Traverse City, Cadillac, Boyne City, and Sault Ste. Marie. Students from all of those sites will participate in the commencement. Grand Valley is the only institution at the University Center that holds a formal commencement ceremony in Traverse City.